It would probably have died anyway 🫣

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Due diligence - I came across this expression in a recent congress. The speaker was addressing how to deal with some complicated cases in the veterinary clinic, and pointed out that if the pet died before we had time to actually diagnose and treat it, it would probably have died no matter what.

And I think that definition just takes so much pressure off!

As long as we have done our “Due diligence” - meaning we have basically done our homework and done the best we could with what we had available in each specific situation - then that’s enough.

We can talk all day in hindsight about how we “should” have seen this or that, done this or the other test, etc, but… if it was that hard to diagnose, then time delay probably didn’t matter.

I really want you to take this in, especially in these times where people are quick to complain. Hindsight is such a BEAUTIFUL thing, and we can learn from it, but it can never change what’s already happened.

Hindsight is arguing with reality.

It’s wanting to travel back in time with the information we’ve gathered since the event.

It’s wanting to change events in another time. It might just as well have happened a century ago - even if it was only yesterday, we can still not change anything!

And we were never supposed to save that animal. How do we know?

Because we didn’t.

Yes, use hindsight to learn, and become an EVEN better veterinarian.

AND, trust you did your due diligence, no matter what pops up afterwards.

If you’re feeling burnt out from constantly blaming yourself, not feeling good enough and arguing with the past, then book a free consult with me HERE and I’ll show you how coaching can change the way you deal with these situations.

In your corner,

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